A burglar who broke into houses in Hitchin, Radlett and Abbots Langley has been jailed for five and a half years.

Arthur McDonagh, 24, broke into a house in The Chilterns – a private street off Wymondley Road in Hitchin – last September. He stole jewellery and keys to a Mercedes car, which he also stole.

Judge Stephen Warner jailed him when he appeared for sentence at St Albans Crown Court today, via video link from Peterborough prison.

McDonagh, of The Hawthorns in Maple Cross, entered the Hitchin property on September 21 through a side gate before smashing the glass to a patio door and jemmying the door.

He was arrested the next day, and subsequently also charged with burgling a house in Abbots Langley and another in Radlett’s Woodfield Road in August – taking jewellery in both cases – as well as a clutch of motoring offences.

He pleaded guilty to three burglaries, to theft and to driving while disqualified.